Fuel consumption recorder



R. E. DAVIS Aug. 2, 1966 FUEL CONSUMPTION RECORDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed April 6. 1961 dmm /N VENTOP. PAMUNA E. 0/4 W6 W 3% ATTOPNEK Aug. 2, 1966 R. E. DAVIS FUEL CONSUMPTION RECORDER OriginalFiled April 6, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 O O O O 0 0 1 2, 1966 R. E. DAVIS3,264,651

FUEL CONSUMPTION RECORDER Original Filed April 6. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet s2, 1966 R. E. DAVIS 3,264,651

FUER CONSUMPTION RECORDER Original Filed April 6. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Mum/r02 PAMONA E. DAV/5' ATMRNE)? United States Patent f 3,264,651 FUELCONSUMPTION. RECORDE Ramona E. Davis, Box 174, Stanhope, Iowa Originalapplication Apr. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 101,228, now Patent No. 3,188,647,dated June 8, 1965. Divided and this application Feb. 4, 1965, Ser. No.449,345 4 Claims. (Cl. 34694) This invention relates to a novelapparatus for recording and computing a variety of informational dataand imprinting the same on a single permanent data sheet, and while ithas been particularly designed for use by the trucking business, it isnot intended to be limited thereto. This application is a division of mycopending application, Serial No. 101,228, filed April 6, 1961, nowPatent No. 3,188,647.

The records of gas consumption, driver Working hours, miles traveledinterstate, intrastate, on toll roads, between designated terminals, andmany others, that are required of the owners and operators of truckinglines companies by federal and state regulatory authorities are myriad,and failure of the trucking lines to satisfy such authorities of theauthenticity of the records kept can and does result not only in manyinconveniences occasioned by lengthy and detailed audits but also, attimes, in the revocation of necessary business permits with a resultingfinancial loss.

In interstate operations, for example, the payment by the truckingcompanies of various fees to the several states in which travel occursis determined by records showing miles traveled in each state, gasconsumed in each state, and miles traveled on toll roads which are freeof certain fee requirements. In addition, many other items ofinformation are necessary or desired by the operators and theauthorities to determine if the truck drivers are complying withregulations as to hours behind the wheel, routes traveled etc. Suchinformation as is required would appear at first blush not too difficultof securing by merely having each driver keep a proper log or record oftime, dates and miles traveled, but experience over the years hasdemonstrated quite clearly that such a system of record keeping is veryinaccurate and unsatisfactory, both from the viewpoint of the operatorsand the regulatory authorities. At least some of the reasons why presentrecord keeping of such trucking operations is not satisfactory are dueto the facts that the recording of data by the truck driver is not doneat such times as to assure accuracy. For example, it is highly importantto the operator and the authorities to know the exact truck mileage as atruck leaves one state and enters another; the exact mileage traveled ontoll roads; the exact mileage between specified terminals, etc.,Consequently, unless a driver records this data at the proper time,exactness is lost, and according to practice in general use, most of therequired information is estimated at the end of a particular run andoften not until the end of a complete round trip, and may not be doneuntil after several trips if of relatively short distances. Sincefreight charges permitted by the operator may depend on specifiedmileage distances, such estimating can seriously involve the operatorsin alleged infraction of permit rights.

It is appreciated that even a conscientious driver cannot be expected tostop at state lines, which may be a busy bridge, or at every other sitewhere data should be recorded, since he may have many other duties atthe Patented August 2, 19.66

time in connection with his truck and its cargo, and for those driverswho may not be so conscientious, the present hit and miss methods ofproviding required information to the truck owners is aptly suited toerrors and misinformation, both unintentional. and intentional asexperience has proved.

Having observed these problems over a period of years and having beendirectly involved in the problems of keeping records of the typedescribed, I have devised an apparatus to overcome the several problemsenumerated and which not only recordsv the information desired at theright time and place, but also relieves the truck driver from theonerous task of keeping such records himself.

Accordingly, the instant invention contemplates the provision of arecording device to be mounted Within the driver compartment of a truckand which will contain amongst other thin-gs a trip odometer, a pair ofpermanent odometers and a speedometer that can be connected directly tothe standard speedometer cable and thereby substituted for the standardspeedometer and odometer apparatus.

Another important object herein is to provide a novel fuel consumptionmeasuring device in connection with the regular fuel tank and fuel lineon a truck and so designed as to indicate the progressive volume of fuelconsumption on an odometer type mechanism also located within therecording device referred to above.

It is also an object of this invention to provide with the recordingdevice an electrically operated time clock and a manually operatedsymbol designating member on which can be placed any desired symbols toindicate such information as state lines, toll roads, destinationpoints, etc. as may be required or desired by a particular user.

A further object of this invention resides in the feature of providingthe time clock, trip odometer, one permanent odometer, gas recorder andsymbol designator with raised characters together with the arrangementof a multiple copy carbon paper roll so positioned that it can bepressed against allthe raised characters for recording the data therepresent at any given time.

Still another important object contemplated by this invention is theprovision of an electrically operated printing plate for impressing thepaper against the raised characters as indicated, together with anelectric circuit, to be actuated by the truck driver, whereby upon thedata being recorded, both the trip odometer and the gas consumptionodometer are automatically reset to zero.

Still another object includes an improvement to a commercially availablecylinder type time clock to automatically eifect accurate registrationof the proper date over an interval extending from the end of one monthhaving less than thirty-one days to the beginning of the followingmonth.

Further objects and the more obvious advantages of this invention willbe mentioned or else appear plainly from the description which follows.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of this data recorder shown with thecover open and having portions cut away to more clearly illustrate theconstruction thereof,

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view with the cover, face plate andcertain other parts removed to show parts located within the backportion thereof,

FIG. 3 is a view, partially in section, taken from the line 3-3 of FIG.1,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing the printing plate and alsobeing broken away to illustrate the operating mechanism for such plate,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but taken from the line 5-5 of FIG.1,

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the fuel consumption measuringapparatus.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 1 andillustrating one of the like automatic deactuating mechanisms used withthe resetting of the trip odometer and fuel consumption recorder.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIG.1.

FIG. 9 is a reduced perspective front view of this recorder in closedposition ready for use, and

FIG. 10 is a wiring diagram used with the printing, reset and papermoving parts of this invention.

Referring to the drawings a box-like housing is designated generally bythe numeral 12 and preferably includes a relatively deep portion 14 towhich a cover portion 16 is hingedly attached in any suitable manner asby pins 18. It will be understood that the form or shape of housing 12is immaterial so long as it can be locked 20 against unauthorizedopening as will later appear. In the main part 14 of housing 12 (FIG. 2)a permanent odometer 22 is mounted near the top center and will beconnected in any convention-a1 manner to a suitable speedometermechanism indicated generally at 24. Mechanism 24 will also operate thespeedometer needle assembly 26 with speedometer needle 28 moving acrossthe calibrated speedometer face plate 30 which is removable by removingscrews 32 and sliding the plate 30 upwardly and out of case side 14 toclear the free end of needle 24. Mechanism 24 is designed at end 34 tobe attached to the usual speedometer cable (not shown) on a motorvehicle. No invention is claimed to the arrangement or operation of thespeedometer 26, odometer 22 and its operating mechanism 24 and suchparts are incorporated herein in order to permit the principal parts ofthis invention, as will be later described in detail, to be assembledinto a unitary device which is susceptible of completely replacing oreliminating the customery speedometer and odometer on a vehicle. Forthis purpose, odometer 22 and needle 28 on plate are visible through awindow 34 in cover 16 whereas the principal parts of this invention, aswill appear, are neither visible to nor accessible by the vehicleoperator. Since member 12 is to be locked when in use, a light 38 ismounted on the inside of cover 16 adjacent window 36 and will beconnected to the vehicle lighting system in a well known manner. Suchlight includes a manually operable switch 40 extending through slot 42in cover 16. By such arrangement, needle 28 and odometer 22 can beilluminated for the information of the driver.

Coming now to the principal aspects of this invention, portion 14 of thehousing 12 contains a conventional type trip odometer 44, a permanentodometer 46 the same as part 22, an odometer type and styled recordingdevice 48 for recording fuel consumption and a cylinder type electricclock 50 of any suitable make. N0 invention per se is claimed in members44, 46, 48 and 50 since they are commercially available but novelty isclaimed in their arrangement, association and use as will later appear.Odometers 44 and 46 operate on a single shaft 47 (FIG. 3) in a wellknown manner and are driven by a flexible cable 52 connecting members 46and 22. Members 44 and 48 both, have the usual reset mechanisms(normally manually operated) represented here by the respective resetgears 54 and 56 and one of the objects herein is to provide a novelmeans of automatically resetting members 44 and 48 to zero atpredetermined times. All members 44, 46, 48 and 50 are provided withraised characters or numbers designated respectively at 44a, 46a, 48aand 50a, for purposes of making a printed impression as will appear.Suitable bracketing or bracing 58, 59, 60, 61, 62 and 64 is used forsupporting the respective 4 members 44, 46, 48 and 50 from plate 51 (tobe referred to later) in the relative positions shown in FIG. 1.

The clock 50 is connected by the bevel gear arrangement 66 through shaft68 to a clock mechanism 70 that has a pressure actuated solenoid wherebythe clock spring at a given point of unwinding actuates the solenoid towind the spring and deactuates the solenoid at a given wound position.Such mechanism 70 is well known and is thus not shown in detail as noinvention is claimed therein per se.

An electric motor 72 (FIG. 3) attached by a bracket 74 to plate 51includes a gear reduction box 76 and shaft 78 on which there is a gearwheel 80 for meshing engagement with the reset gear 54 on the tripodometer 44. A similar arrangement for the fuel consumption recorder 48(FIG. 5) includes the electric motor 82 on support 84, the gearreduction box 86, shaft 88, and gear wheel in operable connectionthrough gear wheel 92 with the reset gear 56. The wiring connections forthese motors and other parts will be fully described later after thevarious elements involved and their relative positions and purposes havebeen set forth.

It will be understood that the raised characters or numerals 44a, 46a,48a and 50a are all on the same plane as one of the objects herein is toobtain a printed impression of the respective readings at selectedtimes. For describing the printing mechanism reference is made moreparticularly to FIGS. 35 where the face plate 51 is shown mounted acrossthe center portion of housing side 14 and which contains suitableopenings for registering with members 44, 46, 48 and 50. Plate 51 isattached by screws 96 to conveniently located studs or the like (notshown) secured within case portion 14. Extending across plate 51 overand closely adjacent to members 44, 46, 48 and 50 is a multi-layeredstrip of a carboned paper 98 or other suitable type susceptible ofproducing multiple copies of a given impression. Such paper 98 may beobtained in roll form with edge perforations 100 as in movie film andone end of such roll is rotatably arranged in a bracket 102 located justunder plate 51 and attached to side 104 of case portion 14. Paper 98 isthreaded through a slot 106 in plate 51, across plate 51 as describedand at the opposite side near side 108 of case portion 14, theperforations 100 are engaged by a pair of spaced sprockets 110 on aspindle 112 before passing downwardly through a slot 114 in plate 51. Inarranging paper 98 as described, the layers are manually separated sothat as shown in FIG. 3 at least three sheets 98a, 98b and 98c aredefined, such sheets being their relative position from top to bottom.The lowermost sheet 98c is trained into an arcuate collector 116 locatedjust under plate 51 near side 108 where it will roll up as paper 98moves across plate 51. Collector 116 is open at the side or end adjacentplate 30 for purposes of removal as will be described later in moredetail. The two upper layers, 98a. and 98b are trained out of a slot 118in side 108 where they can be severed by the truck driver. Sprocketwheels 110 are driven by a geared down electric motor 120 mounted toside 108.

With reference now to FIG. 4, a printing plate 122, preferably of rubberor the like, is carried by a pair of arms 124 hingedly attached at oneend to the forward edge 126 of bottom 128 of member 14 and so arrangedas to extend over paper 98 in a position to impress such paper againstthe various characters, numbers and indicia to be imprinted. The raisingand lowering of printing plate 122 is accomplished by a solenoid 130mounted as shown and pivotally connected to one of the arms 124 asindicated at 132. Solenoid 130 includes a normally open momentarycontact switch member 134 that is momentarily closed by a plunger 136 onone of the arms 124 only on its upward direction of travel as viewed inFIG. 4.

It is intended that certain other data be imprinted on paper 98 inaddition to that represented by members 44,

46, 48 and 50 and for such purposes plate 51 carries suitably arrangedsmall clips 138 for retaining a thin plate 140 containing any symbol orindicia that a particular user may desire or require. In addition, asingle cylinder 142 rotatable through a suitable slot in plate 51 isconnected to a shaft 144 that terminates below and outsideof case bottom128 in a manually operated knob or dial 146. Cylinder 142 will have aplurality of different letters or symbols such as the SL 148shown anddial 146 will have corresponding indicia 150 visible to the truckoperator. The symbol SL for example represents State Line, and othersymbols such as TR for toll road, HS for home station, TD for tripdestination and others can be provided according to requirements of theuser. There is also provided atrack means 152 through cover 16 nearwindow 36 into which a flat key 154 carrying the raised initials of thedriver on duty can be inserted, and also removed from by such driver toidentify himself with the printed matter recorded on paper 98. Suchtrack is arranged to position key 154 when inserted, above plate 51 andbeneath paper 98.

Thus far described it will be understood that the trip and permanentodometers 44 and 46 will operate simultaneously and in the same manneras odometer 22 which will be connected to the speedometer cable (notshown) on a vehicle in any conventional manner. Also, clock 50 will runcontinuously as indicated. The fuel consumption recorder 48 is operatedby a novel apparatus for which reference is now made to FIG. 6.

The regular fuel tank of a vehicle is designated by the numeral 156 andthe regular fuel line and fuel pump are indicated by the respectivenumerals 158 and 160. Normally line 158 would connect pump 160 directlyto tank 156 but for purposes of this invention I have interposed a fuelmetering assembly 162 between pump 160 and tank 156 in line 158. Suchassembly preferably includes a separate fuel tank 164 substantiallysmaller than the regular tank 156 although tank 156 alone could be usedwith slight modifications. However, since assembly 162 is susceptible ofquick attachment to presently installed tank 156 it is preferred foreconomy in its adoption. The size of tank 164 may be varied but one witha capacity of two to five gallons is adequate. A metering pump 166 ismounted preferably to the top of tank 164 so that one end of line 158draws fuel 168 from tank 156, through pump 166 and into tank 164 whichis vented as at 170. The other end of line 158 connects tank 164 to pump160 which will deliver the fuel to the carburetor (not shown) in a wellknown manner. A float member 172 in tank 164 is hingedly secured as at174 to one of the sides of tank 164 and the needle 176 of a rheostat 178is suitably connected to float 172, at hinge point 174 so as to be movedby the relative movement of the float responsive to the level of fluid180 in tank 164. Rheostat 178 is imposed in the electric lead 182 ofwhich one end connects with the metering pump 166 and the other endextends to the usual vehicle battery 184 from which lead 186 runs to aground 188. Rheostat 178 is'designed to decrease current to pump 166 asfloat 172 rises and to increase current to such motor as float 172 fallswhereby pump 166 will operate to maintain an adequate supply of fuel 180in tank 164. At a predetermined elevated point of the float, therheostat 178 will operate to completely shut off current to the pump sothat it will cease operation. Pump 166 includes a flexible cable means190 operably connected to the fuel recording device 48 which willaccordingly register the amount of fuel pumped from tank 156 into 164.Pump 166 is commercially available and while no invention is claimed inthe pump per se, its use and association with the tanks 156 and 164,rheostat 178 and member 48 as described and for the purpose indicated isclaimed as novel.

An electric circuit designated generally by the numeral 192 in FIG. isemployed to operate motors 72, 82 and 120 and includes the normally openpush button type switch 194 accessible from the outside of housing 12 atthe bottom 128. To better understand the operation of circuit 192 ofwhich a description will follow later, I will first describe the generalsequence of operation which this recorder is designed to accomplish.

When a driver takes over a vehicle, he will insert his key 154 carryinghis own initials or other identifying symbol into track 152 so that allimpressions on paper 98 while he is responsible for the vehicle will beimprinted with the other data recorded. Key 154 can be inserted withoutunlocking housing 12 and it is contemplated that the truck owner or hisrepresentative will be the only one having access to the interior of thehousing 12. The truck driver will also manually set dial 146 to theparticular symbol 150 at each time a recording is to bemade to identifythe particular record according to the nature of symbols 150. Adjustmentof dial 146 will of course correspondingly adjust symbols 148 oncylinder 142. It will thus be seen that key 154 and dial 146 are theonly parts of the record within the control.

of the driver.

At predetermined points such as beginning and end of toll roads, Statelines, destinations and any others determined by the owners, the driverwill depress and release switch 194 which during its momentary closedposition will energize circuit 192 and result in the following sequenceof events. Printing plate will impress paper 98 against the variousdevices on plate 51 having data for recording. These include members 44,46, 48, 50, 140, 142 and 154. As soon as the proper impressions are madeon paper 98, the reset gears 54 and 56 on members 44 and 48 respectivelyare set in operation by the respective motors 72 and 82' and also thesprocket wheels are set in motion by motor 120. Operation of the resetgears 54 and 56 will align all corresponding numerals on members 44 and48 in a well known manner and since this is normally manuallyaccomplished, the. stopping of members 44 and 48 on ordinary odometersat a zero setting is done by the one turning the reset shaft. However,since members 44 and 48 will be inaccessible to the driver, and sincebookkeeping will be greatly facilitated by starting each new record, atzero, I have devised apparatus to automatically deactuate motors 72 and82 at a point where members 44 and 46 have a zero reading after eachimpression taken. Such apparatus is indicated generally at 196 in FIG.7, is duplicated for motors 72 and 82 and will be fully described in thedescription of circuit 192.

Mot-or will rotate sprockets 110 sufficiently to clear all printedmatter from plate 51 and thus leave clean paper for the next impression.Sprockets 110 are of suflicient diameter so that one rotation issuflicient for moving paper 98. the required distance and includes means198 (FIG. 10) for breaking the circuit to motor 120' at the requiredinterval of rotation. Paper 98 moved by sprockets 110 will be trainedinto collector 116 and out of slot 118 as previously described. Recordsin collector 116 can only be removed by the one having access to theinterior of housing 12 and the records passing through slot 118 areavailable to the driver. With the operations as described, this deviceis set for another recording when switch 194 is closed and the sequenceof events described is repeated.

With reference now to FIG. 10 and the circuit 192 indicated, it ispointed out that motors 72 (trip odometer reset), 82 (fuel recorderreset), and 120 (paper drive) are on parallel like circuits and operatein a like manner so that the circuit of motor 72 will be first describedand then the other two related thereto.

One. side of motor 72 is connected by lead 200 to the negative side ofthe vehicle battery 184. The other side of motor 72 is connected by lead202 to a normally open contact point 204 on a holding relay 206, andcontact 204 connects through terminal 207 to lead 208 through terminal209 to lead 210 through terminal 211 to line 212 running to the positiveside of battery 184. Line 214 runs from terminal 211 to terminal 216 atone side of switch 194 and line 218 extends from terminal 220 at theother side of switch 194 through solenoid 130 to terminal 220 in lead200. Thus closing of switch 194 will actuate solenoid 130 to move theprinting plate 122 downwardly and upon the upward movement of plate 122due to deactuation of solenoid by release of switch 194, plunger 136momentarily closes switch 134 to energize the holding relay 206. This isaccomplished by lead 222 on switch 134 running to terminal 224 which isconnected by lead 226 to terminal 228 at one side of relay 206. Lead 230of switch 134 extends to terminal 232 and then through lead 234 toterminal 209 through lead 208 to terminal 207 through lead 235 toterminal 236 at the other side of relay 206 where it is connectedthrough the normally closed switch 238 to a switch breaker arm 240. Arm240 at end 242 provides the normally open contact 244 at said other sideof relay 206, and from such side relay 206 connects by lead 246 toterminal 248 in lead 200. Thus the momentary closing of switch 134energizes relay 206 by closing contacts 204 and 244 and motor 72 startsoperation, being connected to the positive side of the battery throughlead 212 terminal 211 lead, 208, switch 204 and lead 202, and to thenegative side of the battery through lead 200. Relay 206 remainsenergized after opening of switch 134, being connected from the plus tominus side of the battery 184 through lead 212, terminal 211, lead 210,terminal 209 lead 208, terminal 207, through lead 235 to terminal 236,contact 238, line 240, switch 244 and lead 246 to terminal 248 in lead200'. Deactuation of motor 72 is effected by the opening of contact 238which breaks the circuit to relay 206 and opens contacts 204 and 244.Contact 238 is opened as follows with reference being made particularlyto FIG. 7 and the circuit of motor 72 in FIG. 10.

On one side of each cylinder of the trip odometer 44 I have provided acam means 250 which includes a detent 252 to provide an abrupt drop ordepression in the cam surface as shown. Cam 250 may be in the form of anintegral shoulder-like projection or a separately attached member solong as it is designed to rotate with the respective cylinders of member40. The detents 252 are arranged so that they are all in alignment whenthe corresponding numerals on the cylinders of member 44 are aligned.Each cam 250 is engaged by a respective finger 254 and all of saidfingers are attached to a common support bar 256 which is secured to oneend of the switch breaker arm 240. The other end 242 of arm 240, asdescribed above, serves to maintain switch 238 in a normally closedposition and this is accomplished as follows. Arm 240 is pivotally orrockably mounted intermediate its ends to a pivot point 258 on rod 260supported by a bar or the like 262 secured to relay 206. As shown inFIG. 7, fingers 254 engage the cams 250 from the bottom side and thus Iuse a spring 264 extending from the outer end of member 262 to arm 240intermediate support 256 and pivot point 258 to normally urge thefingers 254 into contact with the cams 250. By this arrangement it willbe appreciated that as motor 72 operates it will eventually align allcorresponding numerals on member 44 because of the nature of theconventional reset mechanism. This will also align all detents 252 whichas shown are substantially diametrically opposite to the zero settingssince fingers 254 are preferably at the bottom and accordingly when thealigned detents 252 reach fingers 254, such fingers are all urged intothe depressions adjacent the detents. This causes arm 240 to rock onpivot point 258 which opens switch 238 breaking the circuit to relay 206and opens ontact 204 (also 244) to stop motor 72. The dotted line 266 inthe circuit for motor 72 (FIG. 10) merely designates the driveconnection between motor 72 and member 44. As soon as member 44 startsoperation, the movement of cam 250 on one cylinder, being the tenth of amile indicator, will act on one finger 254 to move it "from its switchbreaking position and since all fingers 254 are connected to the commonsupport 256, all fingers are moved by arm 240 rocking on point 258 toclose switch 238. It will be understood that fingers 254 may contactcams 250 at a different relative position than that described wherebydetents 252 would be correspondingly relocated without in any waydeparting from the principle here disclosed. For example if fingers 254were at the top of the cams they could drop by gravity into the camdepressions without requiring a spring 264, but I prefer the embodimentdescribed for more accurate and positive action.

. Further referring to FIG. 10 it is pointed out that the circuitryrelative to motors 82 and for starting and stopping such motors is aduplicate of the circuit described for motor 72 and by suitable leadsare connected to corresponding sides of battery 184 and to correspondingsides of switch 134. Consequently to avoid unnecessary repetition ofcircuit description, the leads and contacts in the circuit for motor 82are given the same numerals as for the motor 72 followed by the letter aand followed by the letter b for motor 120. It will be noted, however,that from the plus side of battery 184, lead 212 through terminal 211through lead 210 to terminal 209 are common to the circuits for motors72, 82 and 120.

Since one of the principal objects herein is to provide for therecording of important data, as described, under circumstances where thetampering with data indicia is not within the control of the truckdriver, it will be appreciated that at times a given vehicle may be onthe road at a time corresponding to the end of one month and beginningof the next. Consequently since all months do not have the same numberof days, the printed date from clock 50 would not normally record theproper first day of a month following a thirty or twenty eight daymonth, for example. To avoid bookkeeping confusion which would resultfrom such erroneous recording under circumstances indicated, I haveprovided an improvement to clock 50 which overcomes the problem.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 8, I have identified the date or daycylinder of clock 50 more particularly by the numeral 268 and cylinder268 will contain numerals 1-31 in sequence in the customary manner.However, for each numeral 29, 30 and 31 on cylinder 268 designated asgroup generally by 270 in FIG. 8 I have made a removably insertableboss, pawl or dog 272 which when inserted as shown will effect a meshingengagement with a continually rotating gear wheel 274 connected to ashaft 276 on which a bevel gear 278 is in mesh with a second bevel gear280 on clock shaft 68. Since shaft 68 is always in operation to runclock 50, gear wheel 274 will likewise be in continual rotation closelyadjacent cylinder 268. In utilizing this arrangement, assume a givenmonth has only thirty days and that perhaps a given truck is leaving onthe twenty ninth to return on the second of the next month. The personwith access to housing 12 manually inserts a dog 272 for the thirtyfirst day which the given month does not have. With this done, ascylinder 268 moves past the thirtieth day, dog 272 is engaged by gearwheel 274 and cylinder 268 is rotated past the thirty first reading intothe correct number one for the first day of the next month. If a twentyeight day month is involved, dogs 272 for the twenty ninth, thirtiethand thirty first would be used.

It will of course be necessary from time to time to replenish the supplyof paper 98 or to remove the records accumulated in collector 116 andfor this purpose it is only necessary to remove plate 30 as previouslydescribed whereby access to the roll ends of paper 98 at opposite sidesof plate 51 is readily accessible from below the upper or top edge ofplate 51.

It will be appreciated from the above description that this recorderwill provide a permanent and accurate record of a variety of necessaryand required information under circumstances that will substantiallyminimize, if

owners but also in the matter of satisfying regulatory au-- thorities asto the record basis upon which different types of fees are computed.Inthe device which I have described it should be understood that theodometer 22 and speedometer members 24, 26 and 28 are not a part of. noressential to this invention since in the absence of such parts, member46 would be attached to the vehicle speedometer by a suitable adapter.However, since the nature and type of this recorder lends itself toassociation with odometer 22 and speedometer parts 24, 26 and 28, I haveincluded such. items in a unitary assemblage which provide a convenientand useful combined unit for the benefit of the users.

It is submitted that the invention shown and described is aptly suitedto achieve the purposes intended and is characterized by a combinationof highly useful and mutually cooperating elements that combine theirrespective and proportionate functions in accomplishing the objectssought to be obtained.

It will be understood that the phraseology employed herein is for thepurpose of description and not for limitation and that modifications andchanges in the construction and arrangement of this invention can bemade within the scope of what is claimed, Without departing from thespirit and purpose thereof. It is thus intended to cover by the claims,any modified forms of structure or mechanical equivalents which may bereasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for measuring the amount of fuel consumption in a motorvehicle comprising in combination with a motor vehicle fuel tank andfuel line to the motor, a recording device in the form of an odometerhaving a conventional reset mechanism, said recording device havingraised numerals, a second fuel tank imposed in said fuel line, anelectrically operated metering pump in said fuel line intermediate saidfuel tanks, a float in said second fuel tank and hingedly secured at oneend to the side of said second tank, a rheostat on said second tankconnected to the hinged end of said float and operated thereby toprovide less electrical resistance when said float moves downwardly andto increase electrical resistance when said float moves upwardly, saidrheostat electrically connected to said metering pump for increasing anddecreasing respectively its speed of operation, and said metering pumpincluding flexible cable means operatively connected to said recordingdevice.

2. Apparatus for measuring and recording the amount of fuel consumptionin a motor vehicle comprising in combination with a motor vehicle fueltank and fuel line to the motor, a housing, a recording device in theform of an odometer having a conventional reset mechanism, saidrecording device having raised numerals, a second fuel tank imposed insaid fuel line, an electrically operated metering pump in said fuel lineintermediate said fuel tanks, a float in said second fuel tank andhingedly secured at one end to the side of said second tank, a rheostaton said second tank connected to the hinged end of said float andoperated thereby to provide less electrical resistance when said floatmoves downwardly and to increase electrical resistance when said floatmoves upwardly, said rheostat electrically connected to said meteringpump for increasing and decreasing respectively its speed of operation,said metering pump including flexible cable means operatively connectedto said recording device, a roll of paper capable of reproducing animpression, said paper trained over said raised numerals, means at eachside of said housing for supporting said roll of paper, a printingplate, hinge means on said housing normally supporting said printingplate in spaced relationship above said paper, a first electricallyactuated means for operating said reset mechanism, a second electricallyactuated means for momentarily moving said printing plate into contactwith said paper and impressing said paper against said numerals, meanson said reset mechanism to terminate its operation at a predeterminedinterval, and an electric circuit including both of said electricallyoperated means and arranged so that movement of. said printing plate outof contact with saidv paper effects the actuation of said firstelectrically actuated means.

3. Apparatus for measuring and recording. the. amount of fuelconsumption in a motor vehicle comprising in combination with a motorvehicle fuel tank and fuelv line to the motor, a housing, a recordingdevice in the form of an odometer having a conventional" resetmechanism, said recording device having raised numerals, a second fueltank imposed in said fuel line, an electrically operated metering pumpin said fuel line intermediate said fuel tanks, a float in said secondfuel tank and hingedly secured at one end to the side of said secondtank, a rheostat on said second tank connected to the hinged end of saidfloat and operated thereby to provide less electrical resistance whensaid float moves downwardly and to increase electrical resistance whensaid float moves upwardly, said rheostat electrically connected to saidmetering pump for increasing and decreasing respectively its speed ofoperation, said metering pump including flexible cable means operativelyconnected to said recording device, a roll of multiple layer papercapable of producing multiple copies of an impression, said papertrained over said raised numerals, means at one side of said housing forrollably supporting one end of said rol lof paper, a paper supportingspindle at the opposite side of said housing, said housing having a slotadjacent said spindle, a roll forming paper collector in said housingbelow said spindle, at least one layer of said paper trained into saidcollector, the other layers of paper trained through said slot out ofsaid housing, a printing plate, hinge means on said housing normallysupporting said printing plate in spaced relationship above said paper,a first electrically actuated means for operating said reset mechanism,a second electrically actuated means for momentarily moving saidprinting plate into contact With said paper and impressing said paperagainst said numerals, means on said reset mechanism to terminate itsoperation at a predetermined interval, and an electric circuit includingboth of said electrically operated means and arranged so that movementof said printing plate out of contact with said paper effects theactuation of said first electrically actuated means.

4. Apparatus for measuring and recording the amount of fuel consumptionin .a motor vehicle comprising in combination with a motor vehicle fueltank and fuel line to the motor, a housing, .a recording device in theform of an odometer having a conventional reset machanism, saidrecording device having raised numerals, a second fuel tank imposed insaid fuel line, an electrically operated metering pump in said fuel lineintermediate said fuel tanks, a float in said second fuel tank andhingedly secured at one end to the side of said second tank, a rheostaton said second tank connected to the hinged end of said float andoperated thereby to provide less electrical resistance when said floatmoves downwardly and to increase electrical resistance when said floatmoves upwardly, said rheostat electrically connected to said meteringpump for increasing and decreasing respectively its speed of operation,said metering pump including flexible cable means operatively connectedto said recording device, a roll of multiple layer paper capable ofproducing multiple copies of an impression, said paper trained over saidraised numerals, means at one side of said housing for rollablysuporting one end of said roll of paper, a spindle at the opposite sideof said housing engaging said paper for moving the same across saidnumerals at times, said housing having a slot adjacent said spindle, aroll forming paper collector in said housing below said spindle, atleast one layer of said paper trained into said collector, the otherlayers of paper trained through said slot out of said housing, a firstelectrically actuated means for rotating said 1 1 spindle, means on saidspindle to terminate its operation at a predetermined interval, aprinting plate, hinge means on said housing normally supporting saidprinting plate in spaced relationship above said paper, a secondelectrically actuated means for operating said reset mechanism, a thirdelectrically actuated means for momentarily moving said printing plateinto contact with said paper and impressing said paper against saidnumerals, means on said reset mechanism to terminate its operation at apredetermined interval, and an electric circuit including all of saidelectrically operated means and arranged so that movement of saidprinting plate out of contact with said paper effects the actuation ofsaid first and second electrically actuated means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 872,298 11/1907Leonard 103--35 1,589,068 6/ 1926 Givens 103-236 3,188,647 6/1965 Davis346-60 10 LOUIS I. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner.

LEO SMILOW, Examiner.

J. W. HARTARY, Assistant Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL CONSUMPTION IN A MOTORVEHICLE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION WITH A MOTOR VEHICLE FUEL TANK ANDFUEL LINE TO THE MOTOR, A RECORDING DEVICE IN THE FORM OF AN ODOMETERHAVING A CONVENTIONAL RESET MECHANISM, SAID RECORDING DEVICE HAVINGRAISED NUMERALS, A SECOND FUEL TANK IMPOSED IN SAID FUEL LINE, ANELECTRICALLY OPERATED METERING PUMP IN SAID FUEL LINE INTERMEDIATE SAIDFUEL TANKS, A FLOAT IN SAID SECOND FUEL TANK AND HINGEDLY SECURED AT ONEEND TO THE SIDE OF SAID SECOND TANK, A RHEOSTAT ON SAID SECOND TANKCONNECTED TO THE HINGED END OF SAID FLOAT AND OPERATED THEREBY TOPROVIDE LESS ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE WHEN SAID FLOAT MOVES DOWNWARDLY ANDTO INCREASE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE WHEN SAID FLOAT MOVES UPWARDLY, SAIDRHEOSTAT ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO SAID METERING PUMP FOR INCREASING ANDDECREASING RESPECTIVELY ITS SPEED OF OPERATION, AND SAID METERING PUMPINCLUDING FLEXIBLE CABLE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID RECORDINGDEVICE.